home-cooking

15 Road Trip Recipes to Save You From Questionable Gas Station Food

You've got your route planned, your overnights booked, bags pack, and playlist loaded. Now all you need to do is pack the cooler full of food and you're ready for an epic road trip. Oh, wait, that's right. The food!

With all your careful planning, packing up the food can easily get put on the back-burner. But like your overstuffed bag, road trip food is just as important. It's what keeps you fueled, happy, and moving. That's why we went ahead and rounded up the best road trip recipes for you to take along with you. They'll save you from splurging on fast food and keep you from making a meal on gas station food.

1. Antioxidant Trail Mix

Keeping energy levels up when driving on a long stretch of road while breathing in gas fumes can easily become tiresome. That's why you need this antioxidant trail mix recipe. Filled with healthy nuts and dried fruit, you get the energy boost you need along with the nutrition your body seeks.

2. Chewy Granola Bars

Having homemade granola bars on hand is a must. They can serve as a quick breakfast or snack. I recommend making a batch of these soft granola bars. They're loaded with peanut butter, oats, pretzels, peanuts, and honey.

3. Best Beef Jerky

There are two times when beef jerky tastes even better with a scenic setting. One is on a trail. The other is on a road trip. Fuel up with protein with this tasty recipe next time you venture out on a long journey.

6. Classic Hummus

Packing snacks are important. What's even more important is packing healthy snacks. One of my favorites is classic hummus with veggies. This hummus will only take you 10 minutes to whip up. Then pair it with some celery sticks, carrots, mini bell peppers, and broccoli for dipping.

7. Easy to Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs

Squeezing in a healthy breakfast when you're driving across country can be challenging. That's why I love to pack the cooler full of hard-boiled eggs. Prep them ahead of time, then peel and eat when you're ready. Just be sure to have someone else peel if you're driving.

8. Vegetable Frittata

Another egg-cellent breakfast idea is this vegetable frittata. It doesn't take long to make, can be eaten cold, and one-handed. I do recommend pairing it with some hot sauce though and wrapping it in foil for easy cleanup.

9. Chicken Salad

Getting a proper meal on the road can be tough, especially when you need to make your daily mileage. In this case, pack some of this light, healthy chicken salad in a jar. You can eat it as is or lather it on some tortillas for an easy meal.

10. Lebanese Lentil Salad

This lentil salad is perfect for road trips for various reasons. It tastes good, it's packed with protein, it's easy to make, it's healthy, it's cheap, and it gives you a break from layering things between bread. And you can make a giant batch to eat for lunch or dinner. Fill up on this and you'll have plenty of energy for the drive.

11. Chicken and Black Bean Burritos

Find yourself craving a burrito with no good taco shops around? Prep your own at home with this 8-ingredient recipe. They're loaded with flavor and much-needed protein. You can have them ready in no time so you can get out there on the open road.

12. Hummus Veggie Wrap

When you find yourself indulging in junk food on the road, turn to these wraps. Turning hummus and veggies into a meal, load up a tortilla with red bell pepper, red onion, carrots, spring mix, and avocado - or your favorite farmer's market veggies. Then add on some feta and hummus, and roll your wrap.

While it also calls for balsamic, I find adding liquid makes things soggy faster so either drizzle it on later or leave it off. The wraps are still delicious either way.

13. Turkey Avocado Ranch Club Wraps

These wraps are the ticket to keeping everyone satisfied. Tortillas are loaded with deli sliced turkey breast, creamy avocado slices, lettuce, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, tomatoes, bacon, and Ranch dressing. Word to the wise, roll these up and squeeze on the Ranch come time to eat so they don't get soggy in the cooler.

14. Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders

Remember all those ham and cheese sandwiches your mom packed in your lunch bag? She did that for a reason, they're cheap and they travel well. Pack yourself some for the road with this recipe. The Hawaiian rolls add a nice twist, plus they're easier to eat with one hand. For best results, eat these on day one.

15. Travel Snack Kits

When in doubt, pack a travel meal kit. Perfect for if you have little ones or want things organized, take a divided container and fill it with all kinds of goodies. Fresh fruit, veggies, crackers, string cheese sticks, dark chocolate, and pinwheel wraps are a few ideas. You can even turn it into a full-on meal, making things like deconstructed rice bowls or a sandwich lunch box. With these travel kits, packing food is a breeze.